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I’ve cut the dead wood, now it’s back to my roots

Gerry Robinson was the ruthless takeover giant who wrested the Forte empire from its favoured son. So what’s he doing in a remote corner of rural Ireland?

The Andrew Billen Interview

January 10 2006, 12:00am, The Times

Gosh, we make Sir Gerry Robinson laugh when we arrive at his mansion in Donegal! The photographer and I have just lunched at the only place serving food down the hill in Raphoe. We were joined in Friel & Son by virtually the entire town: ploughmen, bank clerks, quite likely candlestick-makers, for a meal from the Fifties: soup, meat and two veg, pudding, coffee and chocolate biscuits, and all the water, orange juice or milk we could want. And how much would that be? “€16,” said our waitress — a crazy £5.50 each.

“You never ate there! I can’t believe it!” says Sir Gerry, enfolding us at his door in a blanket of 15-tog good cheer. Yet it is Robinson, the takeover king, who chooses…